Hoosier Hikers Council

06/12/2026

On Saturday, June 20th, the Hoosier Hikers Council will have a work day at Ouabache Land Conservancy's Bushnell's North Star Woods. BNSW is a beautiful, wooded property, and we'll be building a 0.6 mile trail that provides a great view of Sulphur Creek.

Please reply to [email protected] to let us know that you’re coming to the workday so we can plan enough lunch for all the workers. Please be aware that we unfortunately don’t have the resources to accommodate special dietary needs such as vegetarian, gluten-free, etc

Bushnell's North Star Woods is located on Hunt Road on the north side of Terre Haute, about six miles north of I-70. Going west on I-70 toward Terre Haute, take exit 11B to get to US 40 E. Turn right to go north on US 40. You'll bear right to stay on 40, and shortly after you pass Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology you'll come to Hunt Road. Turn left to go north on Hunt Road, and continue for about 2.6 miles. The entrance to the preserve will be directly ahead of you where Hunt Road makes a sharp right turn.

Here's a Google map link showing the entrance to the preserve: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h8n6nKGmi7PufoP77

We'll meet at 9 am at the preserve parking lot and we'll work until 3 with a break for lunch. Please bring water and work gloves. HHC will provide lunch, tools, and training.

Be ready for some stinging nettles - wear long pants!

We hope to see you there!

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

06/07/2026

Trail adopter Cid Poe and Jeff McLane worked on repairing steps on the Rock Shelter Trail. They took a load of lumber down a hill to work on securing the steps. Working on steps on a steep is always a challenge. Thanks guys for the hard work.

05/30/2026

Hello Bring Your Own Tool Volunteers!

Thursday, June 4th, the Hoosier Hikers Council will meet to build trail re-routes at the Sycamore Land Trusts beautiful Canyon Forest Preserve located near Stanford. Please bring your own water and snacks. HHC will provide tools and training.

We'll meet at 10 AM at the Canyon Forest Preserve Parking lot. We plan to work until
around 3pm.

Driving Directions: From W SR 45 going southwest out of Bloomington, go through Stanford, then just beyond the border of Monroe and Greene Counties, turn right (north) onto E Chapel Rd between the white Greene County Church and the graveyard. Take the immediate right (north) onto Greene County Line Rd. Go 1 mi and turn left (west) on Edwards Rd. Parking is on your right just after railroad tracks. The address of the preserve is 13691 Edwards Rd, Solsberry, IN 47459. The gravel parking lot fits six cars. Do not park along Edwards Road or the railroad right-of-way. PLEASE carpool! And please watch your email for possible cancellation due to weather.

Here's a Google Maps link showing the preserve location:

★★★★★ · Nature preserve

05/29/2026

Trail adopter, Ben Taylor, along with his son Hyrum and friend Mike Mullins with his wife Margaret, tackled a section of the Tecumseh Trail from Salmeron Road to Lanam Ridge Road. They found the trail in good shape even though it took a lot of w**d whacking to clear the spring growth with all the rain. They found only one downed log and got that one taken care of.

05/21/2026

Last weekend HHC volunteers met to do some much needed trail building and to repair old trails at Yellow Birch Ravine in Crawford County. They worked on Saturday often in the recurring showers and then again on Sunday after camping out Saturday night and enjoying Sarah and Robin's cooking.

05/03/2026

New location for trailwork on the 16th and 17th.
Every third Saturday of the month, Hoosier Hikers Council volunteers head out into the woods to build trails together. This month’s worksite may be a little farther from home for you, so we’re turning it into a weekend!

We’ll be working at Yellow Birch Ravine near Taswell, Indiana, on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th. For those who’d like to join us on both days, lodging is provided nearby on the nights of Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th. Most of the lodging will be tent camping, with limited indoor space available in a shared house (two bedrooms, plus a bathroom and kitchen). Simple meals will be provided (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

We’ll work from 9AM-3PM each day with a break for lunch, and like all HHC third-Saturday workdays, this event is beginner-friendly, with tools and training provided.

Yellow Birch Ravine is one of the most special spots in Indiana, with waterfalls, hemlocks, and some of the only mountain laurels in the state. Significant visitor impact in recent years has created a network of unsustainable social trails. Over the coming weekend, we’ll be working to build a new, official trail to preserve the ecosystem while guiding visitors through parts of the ravine they may have never seen before.

Please complete this registration form to let us know which day[s] you’ll be joining us, whether you’ll want lodgings (evening board games are very likely!), and if you’re willing to carpool (parking is limited): https://forms.office.com/r/TYc5L14nXg. Additional location information will be provided on registration.

We hope to see you in this special place for this special event!

04/21/2026

Join the Hoosier Hikers Council for a hands-on weekend at Yellow Birch Ravine near Taswell, Indiana, one of the most ecologically unique places in our state.

This special place has been significantly impacted by human use in recent years, and an unsustainable social trail has developed. On May 16th and 17th, we’ll be working together to build a new, sustainable trail that protects the ecosystem while thoughtfully guiding visitors through its most remarkable features.

The ravine is home to waterfalls, a small “slot canyon”, hemlocks, and the only known population of mountain laurels in Indiana. The new trail will not only reduce impact, but also introduce visitors to parts of the landscape they may never have experienced.

We’ll work from 9AM to 3PM on the 16th and 17th. Like all HHC third-Saturday workdays, this event is beginner-friendly, with tools and training provided.

Participants are invited to stay at our off-site lodging the nights of May 15th and 16th. Most of the lodging will be tent camping, with limited indoor space available in a shared house (two bedrooms, plus a bathroom and kitchen). Simple meals will be provided.

Parking is limited both at our lodgings and the work site, so carpooling is strongly encouraged. Additional location details will be shared upon registration.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on a truly special place and to be part of shaping how others will experience it for years to come! Visit https://forms.office.com/r/TYc5L14nXg to register.

04/10/2026

On Saturday, April 18th, the Hoosier Hikers Council will return to Ouabache Land Conservancy's Bushnell's North Star Woods to continue work on the new trail. BNSW is a beautiful, wooded property, and we're building a 0.6 mile trail that provides a great view of Sulphur Creek.

Please reply to [email protected] to let us know that you’re coming to the workday so we can plan enough lunch for all the workers. Please be aware that we unfortunately don’t have the resources to accommodate special dietary needs such as vegetarian, gluten-free, etc

Bushnell's North Star Woods is located on Hunt Road on the north side of Terre Haute, about six miles north of I-70. Going west on I-70 toward Terre Haute, take exit 11B to get to US 40 E. Turn right to go north on US 40. You'll bear right to stay on 40, and shortly after you pass Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology you'll come to Hunt Road. Turn left to go north on Hunt Road, and continue for about 2.6 miles. The entrance to the preserve will be directly ahead of you where Hunt Road makes a sharp right turn.

Here's a Google map link showing the entrance to the preserve: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h8n6nKGmi7PufoP77

We'll meet at 9 am at the preserve parking lot and we'll work until 3 with a break for lunch. Please bring water and work gloves. HHC will provide lunch, tools, and training.

We hope to see you there!

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

04/09/2026

Backpackers who want to camp on the Tecumseh Trail are allowed to camp in the Backcountry area just east of Low Gap Road in Morgan-Monroe.

03/24/2026

Two Falls and Welch Woods trails will be closed until the dam repairs are complete.

🚧 Upcoming construction 🚧

Beginning in mid-March, a construction contractor will be on site to repair and repaint the catwalk leading to the dam’s control tower. This work is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2026. The timing and duration of these activities are subject to change based on weather conditions and other factors.

⚠️ For public safety, the operations area near the dam will be closed to public access for the duration of the project. This closure will be clearly marked with posted signage throughout the area.

We understand this area is frequently used during the spring for fishing and trail walking, and we appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation while this important maintenance work is completed. These repairs are necessary to ensure the long-term safety and reliability of the structure.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to complete this project safely and efficiently.

🔗Read the full news release here: https://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/News/News-Releases/Display/Article/4409384/usace-announces-upcoming-maintenance-activities-at-cagles-mill-lake/